AFC Notes: Kraft, Broncos, Ravens, Bills
As Ben Volin of The Boston Globe notes (on Twitter), Patriots owner Robert Kraft is one of three owners on the NFL Compensation Committee, which determines commissioner Roger Goodell’s pay. The other two owners on that committee are Arthur Blank and Jerry Richardson. One unidentified NFL owner told Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (TwitLonger link) that he thinks the relationship between Kraft and Goodell is “pretty much dead” in the wake of DeflateGate, so that will be an interesting situation to keep an eye on going forward.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- The Broncos are looking at tight ends in the wake of Jeff Heuerman‘s knee injury, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com tweets. Legwold could envision Denver signing a tight end this week, even as soon as today or Wednesday.
- The Ravens aren’t expected to be too active on the free agent market now that veteran signings no longer affect the compensatory draft pick formula, but sources with knowledge of the team’s thinking predict Baltimore will try to add a cornerback through free agency or a trade, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. One possible option for the Ravens could be former Patriot Kyle Arrington, as Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun outlines.
- Mike Rodak of ESPN.com examines the Bills‘ backfield, where the running back depth chart is getting crowded. While LeSean McCoy is locked in for a roster spot, the team figures to have to cut at least one player – and maybe two – from a group that features Fred Jackson, Boobie Dixon, Bryce Brown, and rookie Karlos Williams.
- Free agent wide receiver James Jones told SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link) that he was really surprised the Raiders released him. Oakland let Jones go earlier this month.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Saints Reach Deals With Six Draftees
The Saints have signed four of their 2015 draftees and agreed to terms with two more, according to a press release from the club. The two players to reach agreements with the team are the more notable ones — second-round linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha and third-round quarterback Garrett Grayson.
In addition to striking deals with Kikaha and Grayson, the Saints have signed linebacker Davis Tull, defensive tackle Tyeler Davison, cornerback Damian Swann, and running back and return specialist Marcus Murphy. Murphy was a seventh-round pick, while the other three players were all selected by New Orleans in the fifth round earlier this month.
All six rookies will count for less than $1MM against the Saints’ cap in 2015, with Kikaha $958K cap number representing the biggest hit among the group. The deals leave New Orleans with just three draft picks left to sign — first-rounders Andrus Peat and Stephone Anthony, along with third-round cornerback P.J. Williams.
To keep tabs on which teams have locked up their 2015 draftees and which players remain unsigned, be sure to check out our tracker.
Chiefs Sign 11 Undrafted Free Agents
9:44am: The Chiefs’ official press release on their undrafted free agent signings includes one more name in addition to the 10 listed below. The team also signed former James Madison linebacker Sage Harold.
8:34am: The Chiefs have added 10 undrafted free agents to their roster, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, who provides the full list of Kansas City’s free agent additions. All 32 teams have now officially announced their UDFA signings for 2015. Here are the Chiefs’ new rookies:
- De’Vante Bausby, CB, Pittsburg State
- Kenny Cook, WR, Gardner-Webb
- Justin Cox, DB, Mississippi State ($10K bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- Andrew East, LS, Vanderbilt ($10K bonus, per Wilson)
- Garrett Frye, C, Georgia Southern
- Manasseh Garner, RB, Pittsburgh
- David Irving, DL, Iowa State ($10K bonus, per Wilson)
- Donatella Luckett, WR, Harding
- Justin March-Lillard, LB, Akron
- Charles Sweeton, T, Tennessee-Martin
NFC South Notes: Swearinger, Saints, Jones
Let’s check in on a few items from around the NFC South….
- A handful of NFC South teams are eyeing safety D.J. Swearinger, who was cut yesterday by the Texans and will become a free agent today if he’s not claimed on waivers. According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link), the Buccaneers are discussing claiming Swearinger, but there’s only a 50/50 chance they do so. Meanwhile, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer says the Panthers are also considering putting in a claim for the ex-Texan, and Falcons safety William Moore tells ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure that he thinks Swearinger would be a nice fit in Atlanta.
- The Saints hosted defensive tackle Kevin Williams on a visit, according to Kristian Garic of WWL (on Twitter). The veteran free agent spent last season with the Seahawks after playing in Minnesota for 11 years. Williams isn’t the same player he was when he earned five All-Pro nods with the Vikings between 2004 and 2009, but he can still be an effective piece in the middle of a defensive line.
- The Falcons are expected to work hard to extend wide receiver Julio Jones before the season gets underway, and the price to do so figures to be upwards of $80MM, writes D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Panthers Sign Devin Funchess
The Panthers have signed second-round wide receiver Devin Funchess to his rookie contract, the team announced on Monday in a press release. The move ensures that all five of Carolina’s draft picks are now locked up.
Funchess, who played his college ball at Michigan, will be in line for a four-year worth about $5.521MM, including a signing bonus of about $2.275MM and a cap hit of just over $1MM for 2015. While it’s not clear yet if he’ll immediately earn a spot in the starting lineup, Funchess and 2014 first-rounder Kelvin Benjamin figure to head Cam Newton‘s new-look receiving corps in Carolina.
The Rams originally held the 41st overall pick, which was ultimately used by the Panthers on Funchess. St. Louis reportedly received plenty of action on the selection, getting trade inquiries from five or six teams in the moments leading up to the pick before ultimately deciding to accept Carolina’s offer.
North Notes: Ravens, Wootton, Manziel
By signing wide receiver Breshad Perriman on Monday, the Ravens set a new mark for the earliest that they have ever inked a first-round draft choice, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets. It’s no surprise that the Ravens got a deal done quickly with the UCF speedster and that’s partially because of how easy the current CBA has made signing rookies. Here’s a quick look at the AFC and NFC North..
- The Lions worked out defensive lineman Corey Wootton today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The veteran tried out for the Jaguars and Titans earlier in the offseason and visited with the Saints in April.
- Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter) believes that cornerback Kyle Arrington makes a lot of sense for the Ravens. Arrington, who signed a four-year, $16MM contract with the Patriots in 2013, was let go by the Patriots earlier today.
- If the Browns see anything worthwhile out of Johnny Manziel they should slot him in as the starter, Pat McManamon of ESPN.com writes. He reasons that the Browns need to find out where they stand with Manziel in 2015 rather than stagnate with Josh McCown.
Latest On Patriots, Tom Brady
On Monday night, Patriots owner Robert Kraft (via Twitter) issued a statement regarding the penalties levied against his team.
“Despite our conviction that there was no tampering with footballs, it was our intention to accept any discipline levied by the league. Today’s punishment, however, far exceeded any reasonable expectation. It was based completely on circumstantial rather than hard or conclusive evidence. We are humbled by the support the New England Patriots have received from our fans throughout the world. We recognize our fans’ concerns regarding the NFL’s penalties and share in their disappointment in how this one-sided investigation was handled, as well as the dismissal of the scientific evidence supported by the Ideal Gas Law in the final report. Tom Brady has our unconditional support. Our belief in him has not wavered.”
Kraft’s statement made it clear that he is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Brady, who is also prepared to fight the league. Here’s another round of reactions to the Pats’ scandal..
- Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) wouldn’t expect the Patriots to be in the market right away for a veteran quarterback in the wake of the Brady ruling. He believes that the Pats will wait to see how the appeal goes and evaluate their own situation before making any moves. As it stands, rising sophomore Jimmy Garoppolo would likely be New England’s starter for the first four games of the 2015 season.
- An NFL owner told Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) that the relationship between commissioner Roger Goodell and Kraft seems “pretty much dead.” “I can’t say for certain but it sure seems that way to me,” the owner, who knows both men well, said. “Some of us (owners) are waiting a little nervously to see what Robert does next.”
- Mike Chappell of CBS4 (on Twitter) wouldn’t be surprised if Brady appeals and has his four-game suspension cut in half.
- The $1MM fine levied against the Patriots is the largest team fine in NFL history, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (via SportsCenter on Twitter).
- Brady’s agent, Don Yee, is going to the mat for his client as they prepare to appeal his suspension. Yee also represents Saints coach Sean Payton, and Larry Holder of The Times-Picayune wonders why Yee didn’t fight harder for him when he was suspended for a season as a result of BountyGate.
- Brady left Roger Goodell no choice but to make an example of him, Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News opines.
- Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News explained why the punishment for the Patriots and Brady was so severe.
49ers Sign Nine Draft Picks
The 49ers announced they have signed nine of their ten draft picks. That group includes second round safety Jaquiski Tartt but does not include first round defensive end Arik Armstead.
Tartt, third-round linebacker Eli Harold, third-round tight end Blake Bell, third-round running back Mike Davis, fourth-round wide receiver DeAndre Smelter, fifth-round punter Bradley Pinion, sixth-round lineman Ian Silberman, seventh-round lineman Trent Brown, and seventh-round tight end Rory Anderson.
Tartt, 23, played in 44 games and totaled 277 tackles, six interceptions, 20 passes defensed and 6.5 tackles for loss in his career. The Samford product was named American Football Coaches Association FCS All-America team and Second-Team AP All-America in his senior season.
49ers Still Interested In Lance Briggs
We haven’t heard much regarding the 49ers’ courtship of linebacker Lance Briggs in some time, but that doesn’t mean that it has fizzled out any. The 49ers remain interested in signing the seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker, a source tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
Briggs, 34 (35 in November), played his whole career with the Bears, playing in 173 games and earning seven Pro Bowl appearances while making a case for the Hall of Fame. The Bears, however, opted to go in a new direction this offseason and in early March they informed him that he wouldn’t be returning for another season. Briggs, who entered the league as a third-round pick in 2003, was a key piece on the defensive side of the ball for the Bears for more than a decade. Known for being tough and durable throughout his career, Briggs has missed 15 of 32 games across the last two seasons. That’s a stark contrast to the four total contests he missed in his first ten seasons.
In late March, San Francisco brought Briggs in for a tryout and, until today, there wasn’t any word on where Briggs stood with the team. It sounds like Briggs could still be brought in to provide the 49ers with veteran depth, though he likely wouldn’t be counted on for the kind of production he offered years ago. After Patrick Willis‘ and Chris Borland‘s sudden retirements in March, the Niners could use some reinforcements at inside linebacker.
Minor Moves: Monday Night
Given the rash of minor transactions that have gone down today, we’ll be keeping track of the rest here in a brand new post. The latest minor moves from around the NFL..
- The Dolphins announced that they have been awarded offensive lineman Donald Hawkins off waivers from the Cowboys, James Walker of ESPN.com tweets. To make room, offensive lineman Mark Asper has been cut.
- The Rams have signed two of their tryout players in long snapper Tyler Ott and wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez, Howard Balzer of USA Today tweets. The 27-year-old Rodriguez, who walked on the football team at Clemson, served with the U.S. Army between 2006 and 2010, in both Afghanistan and Iraq, earning a Purple Heart during his service.
- The Bears claimed tight end Chris Pantale, who was waived by the Jets a few days ago, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Pantale’s first NFL contract came with the Jets when he was signed as a UDFA in 2013.
- The Jets, meanwhile, inked two tryout players from this past weekend in quarterback Jake Heaps and fullback J.C. Copeland, Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets. To make room for both players, the Jets cut Greg Henderson and safety Demarkus Perkins (link).
- The Texans announced that UDFAs Jake Cotton and James Rouse (waived-injured) have been let go, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 (on Twitter). Both players were signed as UDFAs by Houston earlier this month. In their stead, the Texans have signed Mack Brown, Corey Moore, and Joseph Treadwell, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
- The Raiders waived linebacker Braylon Mitchell, running backs Terrance Cobb and Gus Johnson, defensive backs Chance Casey, Vernon Kearney, and return specialist Jeremy Gallon (waived/injured), according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- The Steelers placed Nigel Crawford on waivers with a left squad designation, Wilson tweets.
- The Chiefs signed Georgia Southern center Garrett Frye as a UDFA, per the NFL’s transactions report, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets.